Electric switch



B. E. SPERO ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH March;22,1927. 7 1,621,561

Fild May 1925 Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

entree stares tense PATENT orrics.

BEN E. SPERO AND LEON SZERO, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed May 13, 1925.

.0 such switch projecting. through the cover in such manner that opening of the cover will automatically open the switch and the electric circuit Another object is to provide an electric switch which shall include means for permitting a plurality of the switches to be assembled side by side to provide what is commonly referred to as a gang format1on, such gang having a common conduit or passage extending through all the switches to receive the feed wires.

A further object is to provide an electric switch of this general character which shall be particularly simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and which shall be eflicient in operation.

l/Vith'these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the various novel features of construction and arrangement or combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating a plurality of switches assembled in gang formation; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the switches, the switch mechanism proper being shown in side elevation; Flg. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of two adjacent boxes.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, 1 denotes generally a switch mechanism having contacts 2 and 8 which are adapted to be interconnected by one or more movable knife blades 4. The particular switch illustrated is of the toggle type and is operated by means of a lever 5 to engage or disengage the knife blades 4 with contacts 2 and 3, thereby to close or open the circuit. In the present instance upward movement of the lever 5 as viewed in Figs.

55 1 and 2 will close the circuit and downward Serial No. 29,925.

movement of such lever will open the circuit. The switch shown is of standard type readily obtainable in the market and a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The switch 1 is enclosed in a metallic box comprising side walls 7 end walls 8 and 9, and a rear wall 10. The front of the box is normally closed by a cover 11 which is hinged to end wall 9 as indicated at 12, and this cover is provided with a slot 13 through which lever 5 projects. WVe preferably provide the lever 5 with an upwardly directed portion that is normally adjacent to or in contact with the upper edge of slot 13 when the switch is in closed circuit position. With this arrangement it is thought to be obvious that by opening the cover 1.1, the lever 5 will be forced downward and there by open the switch 4 and hence render it impossible for anyone to gain access to the box without first opening the circuit. An

outwardly directed lug 15 projects from one edge of slot 13 so that the switch may be sealed in open circuit position by inserting the usual seal through an aperture in the switch lever 5 and an aperture in the lug 15.

The upper end wall 8 is provided with a suitable opening to receive an electric meter denoted generally at 16. Each side wall 7 is provided adjacent its lower end with an opening 17 which merges with the front edge of such wall. The opening in one of these walls is bordered on the outer side thereof with a flange 18 that extends entirely about the peripheral edge thereof Gui while the opening 17 in the opposite wall of the box'is (lQVOlill of such flange. The purpose of these openings 17 is to provide a substantially continuous conduit through a plurality of boxes when assembled for gang formation. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that when a number of boxes are to be assembled in gang formation, the flange 18 of one box will interfit with the opening 17 of an adjacent box, thereby permitting the boxes to be assembled in close relationship with the side walls 7 of each box in contact. The boxes are held together by suitable bolts and nuts extending through adjacent side walls, and these screws also serve to electrically bond the boxes together and provide a convenient terminal for a ground connection. The flange 18 interfitting with an adjacent opening 17 provides a continuous metallic conduit between the boxes as clearly shown in Fig. 8, and this conduit is adapted toreceive the feed wires denoted generally at 20. If desired each .box may also contain a suitable i'us-e block (not shown) which may be interposed in the usual manner between the feed wires and the switch 1 in each box. hen a single switch is installed, the openings 1? in the side walls may each be closed by a suitable plate as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2., such plate being fastened by screws it deflred, or this plate may be formed as a lmock-out portion in the usual manner.

A switch box constructed in accordance with our invention enables the switches to be assembled in gang formation with the side walls of adjacent boxes in contact, and hence such gang formation will occupy a minimum of space. Furthermore no separate interconnecting conduit is required between adjacent boxes in order to provide a continuous conduit for the feed wires and the boxes can be erected in minimum time. The switch handle projecting through the cover provides a convenient operating handle which is readily accessible and with our particular arrangement above described provides a safety feature so that it is impossible to gain access to the box without opening the circuit.

\Vhile we have used the terms upper and lower in the specification and appended claims to denote the upper and lower portions of the switch as viewed in the drawing, it will be understood that such terms are used in their broadest sense and are not intended to limit the position in which it is necessary to operate the switch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A switch box of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular metallic box having side walls each provider with an aperture in transverse alignment, a flange formed on one side wall about the periphery of the aperture therein and adapt ed to enter a similar aperture in an adja' cent box thereby to provide a continuous passage between adjacent boxes when a plurality of such boxes are assembled in gang formation with their side walls abntt ng, a cover normally closing the "front of said box and having a vertically extending elon gated opening therein adapted to lPUQlYt! a switch handle theretln'ough.

2. A. plurality of switch boxes of the class described, adapted to be assembled in gang formation with the side walls thereot in contact one with the other, the abutting walls of said boxes each being provided with an aperture in transverse ahgnnient, a flange on one of said side walls adjacent the aperture therein adapted to enter the aperture in the adjacent side wall thereby to provide a continuous passage therebetween, a. cover for each of said boxes normally closing the front thereof, each of said covers having an elongated opening therein adapted to receive a switch handle th-erethrough.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto afiix our signatures.

BEN E. SPERO. LEON SPERO. 

